All Episodes

January 2, 2022 38 mins


Back in the dark days of Lockdown number 2 at the end of 2020 Lottie and Linda were enjoying the TV series Harlots.  Whilst chatting about it Lottie remembered seeing the blue plaque that is dedicated to Priss Fotheringham, the "second best whore in London".  And the idea for a podcast episode was born!

For reasons many and varied it's taken us a whole year to bring the episode to you and we do hope you enjoy it.  It's not been all beer and skittles (or ping pong balls!) for sex workers through the ages, though.  In fact the life for the (mainly women) involved in the trade is often very grim indeed. More than any other episode this one has brought home to us just how little anything changes from one century to the next.  We are very grateful to Moira Buffini, writer of Harlots and Lyn Brown MP for their contributions.

Further reading:
Nell Gwyn, by Charles Beauclerk
City of Sin, London and its Vices, by Catharine Arnold
Madams - Bawds and Brothel Keepers of London, by Fergus Linnane
An English Madam:  The Life and Work of Cynthia Payne, by Paul Bailey

Interesting Viewing:
Harlots, by Alison Newman & Moira Buffini available on DVD and to stream
Personal Services, by David Leland, available on DVD and to stream


This episode:
Hosts:  Lottie Walker & Linda Hansell
Guests:  Moira Buffini  & Lyn Brown MP
Farewell to Bankside read by Steve Taylor
Editor:  Jacob Taylor


If you'd like to help us in our work to keep the podcast going do please consider becoming a patron.  It's really easy to do, just go to either:
 
 https://www.patreon.com/bluefiretheatre
or
https://ko-fi.com/bluefiretheatre
where you can donate.  This is all an expensive business and even the smallest donation helps us get our shows on the road and keep the lights on in the studio.  We really appreciate and are so grateful for all your support.

And don't forget to follow us on social media.  We'd love to hear from you!  Find us at:
https://twitter.com/famous_heard
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.bluefiretheatre.co.uk/

 

Support the show

Thank you for listening. If you've enjoyed today's podcast do subscribe via your streaming platform so that you never miss an episode and you can catch up on past episodes.


If you'd like to help us keep the studio lights on please click the "support the podcast" link above.


Details of all our upcoming shows and how to access our albums etc are here:
https://linktr.ee/BlueFireTheatreCo

And finally...don't forget to follow us on social media. We'd love to hear from you!
Find us at:

https://www.instagram.com/bluefire_tc
https://www.facebook.com/bluefiretheatre
https://www.tiktok.com/@bluefiretheatre
https://www.bsky.app/@bluefiretheatre.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@bluefiretheatrecompany3735/videos



Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.